BEIJING, July 30 (INP): A spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Wang Wenbin reiterated that Xinjiang-related matters are not about human rights at all, but about combating violence, terrorism and separatism.  

The basic human rights of residents of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are effectively guaranteed, and the people are living a safe and happy life, he added while replying to a question about the situation in Xinjiang at a regular news briefing on Wednesday.  

He explained that “Over the past 60 years or so, since the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region was established, its economic aggregate has grown by almost 200 times, and people's living standards have been constantly improving.  

From 2014 to the end of 2019, 2.92 million people of 730,000 households were lifted out of poverty, and the region's poverty rate dropped to 1.24 percent from 19.4 percent in 2013. Xinjiang residents' religious activities and freedom of religious belief are protected by law.  

There is one mosque for every 530 Muslims in Xinjiang, a number higher than that in many Muslim countries. At the 44th session of the UN Human Rights Council, 46 countries in their joint statement commended the human rights progress in Xinjiang.” 

The spokesperson stressed that the Chinese people are hospitable, and Xinjiang's door is open to the world. We always hold an open attitude on UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet visiting China and Xinjiang. 

China, he added will welcome the visit of a US’s dignitary at an appropriate time. In fact, since the end of 2018, more than 1,000 international organizations officials, foreign government officials, diplomats stationed in China, media personnel and scholars have visited Xinjiang in over 70 groups.  

He made that it clear that China welcomes unbiased, equal-footed and friendly dialogue and communication, but it opposes foreign interference under the pretext of "international evaluation". 

“We urge the relevant side to respect facts, discard prejudice and view Xinjiang's progress in human rights and counter-terrorism in an objective and fair manner,” he added. 

INP/JAVED